I'm just reading 'Istanbul' by Orhan Pamuk. It's an autobiographical book about growing up in that city. I've been a bit obsessed by Istanbul after visiting it a few years ago (although I haven't had a chance to go back). Pamuk's book is full of fine writing and many wonderful (black & white) photographs.

For SF fans try Walter Jon Williams's 'Dread Empire's Fall' trilogy:

'The Praxis', 'The Sundering' and 'Conventions of War'. This is a huge space opera full of highly convincing space battles, civil wars, politics, romance and skullduggery. I think that Williams is one of the greatest SF writers of recent times and hugely underrated. His 1995 novel, 'Metropolitan' is one of my favourite books of all time.